TOP-DRESSING 59 



During hot weather a good morning and afternoon 

 syringing is beneficial, but these are sufficient, and it is 

 best done after the morning and afternoon waterings. 

 I prefer never to leave it later than 3.30 P.M., so that 

 the plants may get quite dry before evening, though 

 other cultivators who live at higher altitudes may find 

 it practicable to syringe even later. On dull days one 

 operation must not be exceeded. Well diluted soot water 

 is, I think, better to use than clear water ; it tends 

 to prevent rust, and it certainly makes the foliage dis- 

 tasteful to insect pests. 



TOP-DRESSING 



By a top-dressing is not meant merely sprinkling a small 

 amount of artificial manure on the surface, but, on the con- 

 trary, the addition of soil and manure. Heavy dressings of, 

 say, half an inch of soil at once, are undesirable, these, in 

 many instances, doing more harm than good ; but when 

 the pots get very full of roots and these appear on the 

 surface, a good handful of soil, containing just a little 

 fertiliser, is beneficial and it serves to protect the young 

 roots from the sun and air. This top-dressing should 

 not be pressed hard, but just spread over the surface 

 and watered in, and here is the advantage of watering 

 with a rose, for after two or three waterings it will have 

 settled down nicely and the young roots will be finding 

 their way into it. Such dressings as these may be given 

 from four to six times during the months of August and 

 September, the last one just previous to housing. This 

 system of feeding enables the plants to preserve a moder- 

 ately strong growth until the close of the season. 



